Curtain rod



Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

. UNITED STATES resin,

PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. :BLAKEI.Y, or UTE, IOWA, AssIGNoR or ONE-HALE To WILBUR A,

BLAKELY, E GRAND CENTER, IOWA. n y

CURTAIN Eon.

Application :filed J'unei27, 1927. Serial No. 201,751.

My invention relates to curtain rods and has for its primary object to provide acurtain rod adapted to be attached to a window casing or the like without the use of screws.

A further object is to eliminate the usual brackets for supporting a curtain rod and to embody their function in an integral bracket member formed on the curtain rod itself. y u

vMore particularly it is my object to provide a curtainrod comprising two telescoping curtain rod elements, each of which is provided at its end with an integral bracket member adapted toserve as a clamp to frictionally engage the end edge of a window casing member, the curtain rod elements being provided with lockingmeans for securing them against longitudinal extension and to therebyl secure the clamp members in frictional engagement with the window cas-` ing. l

My invention further contemplatesv the use of such a structure in which the clamp.- ling engagement with thewindow casing is facilitated by the resiliency of the clamping bracketarms. l,

Another object of my invention isto provide a locking device containedvwithin the telescoping curtain krod elements, together with means accessible from thefexterior .of

said elementsfor actuating vthe same.

vWith these and other objects in view, my invention consists Y. in l the construction, arrangement andcombinationof the various parts of my device,`whereby :the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fullysetforth, pointed out inmy: claims,

= and illustrated in the accompanying drawf ings, in which: l H 1.

4D Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a window casing with my invention attached thereto.y y l y Fig. 2 isl a horizontal, :sectionall view through ay curtain rod constructed according to my invention7 the window casing member to which it is clamped being shown in plan.,V A

Fig.`3 is 4a detail, sectional view taken on the vline 3f-3 vof. Fig.,2. v y v Fig. 4 `is an enlarged, det-ail, sectional view of the locking device in disengaged position.

Fig. 5 is an enlargedvelevation of one end o f a window casing showing a portion of the curtain rod and the clamping bracket.`

Fig. Gis a perspective view of the clampingl bracket. v v.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a somewhat modified form of `my device.

,Figa 8 is.v a view of a further modified form of my device.

l have used the reference character 10. to indicate generally a windowv casing which has the horizontal upper casing member 11. The curtain rod of my invention comprises the usual tubular telescoping members 12 and 13, but instead Iof being supported by separate brackets, it is provided at itsends with integral clamp brackets including the arms 14, bent at right angles to the vertical plane of tliercurtain members 12 and 13 and the clamp jawsl, formed as continuations of the arms 14 and extended vertically to give an elongated clamping area, The jaws 15 are provided with pads 16 of rubber or the like, designed to give a frictional gripping engagement with the ends ofthe casing member 11. rlhe arms 14y have ay certain amount'of resiliency so that in locking the curtain rod elements 12 and`13 together, the armsv may-be placedunder tension.

For.` the purpose of locking theyarms together, the outer curtain rod, element '12.is provided witha vseries of indentations 17, formed in itsinner wall, (Fig. 2) and the inner .member 13 is `provided with a lock element 18, designed to engage inxany one of the indentations 17. The locking element 18 has the shape shown in Fig. 4 comprising a curved lever portion 19, which fulcrumsl approximately at its center against thel inner wall of the curtain rod element 13 and which is curved at each end to form the cam surfaces 20 and21fThe end upon which the cam surface 21.is formed is hooked as shown in Fig. 4 toform the engaging hook 22.Y

A pin 23 limits the locking element againstl longitudinal movement, `passing through ank opening 24 in the locking element wheregit engages the wall of ther curtain rod member 13, and being securedbetween the walls of the curtain rod member. y

A flat strip of metal, which may be termed a key, is used to actuate thelocking element. This key is referred to generally bythe character 25 and is provided at its inner. end

with a narrow slot 26 to receive the pin 23 and a. wider slot 27 to receive one end of the locking element 18. The juncture between the slots 26 and 27 form 'a L pair of Y shoulders 2B and the block of metal between the shoulders 28 and the end of the strip serves asa cam to. actuate the locking element. It may now be noted that bymo'ving the key inwardly toward the locking element,

the end of the key will engage the cam `face;

21, lifting the hooked end of the locking element into engagement with' the depression 17 .v At the same time, the locking element will rock `about its i'fulcruin against the innen1 wall yof the curtain member 13 andits other end will move downwardly into the widened slot 27. i y

Whenthe key is' retracted outwardly,-the shoulders 28 will engage fthe vcam vface 20, lifting the end of the locking element opposite the heo'k 22 and causing the locking element to rock so as to "fretrac'tvt-he liook 22 element and "the telescoping curtain rod members 12 and 13, 'adjusted ito "the proper relative positions Ito correspond 'to the length of the Aeasing member 11. Where aA narrow window is -involved,one person may grasp the two brackets jwith his 'palms against thc brackets, insert them over the casing mene ber lland thence vapply pressure to the arms 14 so as to telescope the Arner'nbers 12 and. 13 together as 'far as possible. Tn engaging the arm 14at the end of the v'rod lmeinber 13, the "thrrb or'one ofthe fingers iis `allowed to rest over the head-29. Simultaneously with the application of pressure :to 4 the z`un`1s'14,

the tliurrib is allowedv yto 'exert alight pres;- agtrinst the key so as to -gently urge the locking element `into engagement with the depressions 17. As 'the curtainrod'elements y are' ggshe tortether, the thumb or :finger will l allowed? to 'feel :the movement ofthe locking element as it passes over the ridges between thelsu'cceeding depressions and when the curtain rod elements have been 'pushed together as :far as Vthey will go without inJurng lthe brackets, the key rwill be forced nwar and the 'pressure vsimultaineously released from `the arms 14. 'The hook 22 will Ethen 'slip back into one of the depressions 17 'andwi'll Asecurely lock the curtain rod elements against opening. "-ther types of locking elements may'bensed, for instance, an integral finger vmight be employed,

formed on the endk of the member 13 and 'maintained in engagement with the 'notches 17 by the pressure between the arms 14.` -It may be noted Vin :this respect that although "13 against theV inner wall of the curtain rod element 12 and the engagement of the locliing member may be released by simply Agrasping the curtain rod near the inner end of the member 13 and pulling outwardly to cause the rod f'memberto nieve t'o=a p'o'si- 1-2 instead of l"tliie inner walflv.k struction is illl'u'stratedin ig. l -Th'e same principle operates inthe preferred Alform fof any invention shown `Fi-gs. 1 6.` The `).)ressui'e between-fthe arms 1-4 will cause the inner cunt-ain rod member to snugly hug the inner wall of the me'rrr'ber 12a-nd therewviilil be no possibili-ty :of "the locking ide-vice becoming disengaigeddue to the iplay thatinay `deve'lep between lthe fcuvrtain rod elements. y

The for'm 'of my invention, illustrated in tai-n rod in wh-ichfthe feurtain rod elements are I(-3 sha-peel in cross section r'with apen slot at the rear. lThe locking element 18 ifs'pi'voted as at 18h, in the'cirrtain rod meniber 13a-and hasia handle lportion 118C-, between which and the forward wall of the curtain rod member, Jis received a spring 18d, which tends to normally urgeit'he "leekingfhookl-into engagement with one of the number vof slats 18c iin the lcu-rtfain fred member 12a. 1 -inserting the lingers through the slots-iin the rear walls of the member-fs '1-2a-1and 13, 1respective'ly, the handle 18 rhaybedepressed to remove the ylocking member fro'in fengage ment `iasf-ithits slot.- -f

Some fehfenges may-be Imerle iin the sans struction and arrangement the lpasrts of my invent-ien withoutjfdeparting from the rea-i spirit Aand purpose of any-"invention, and it is my intention to @over fby 'my elaims, any moifie fer-ms "of `structure Ior use of c'hanical "equivalents, which Inaiyibe reason-l ably "included within theirscope.I f

I claim as my invention: Y-

1.' linfa device of thefclas's-fdescribed, apair of telescopi-ng lcurtaili rod melrhers Lp'ros vided at their outer ends with integral braeketsfincluding clamping jaws yfor 'en gagi'ng the ends -of the leasingmember and f my means for locking vthe 'curtain rod --m"e`rnbers against longitudinal distensin said :inea-ns including a swinging, locking element 'earried by `the 'inne'r curtain rod member iat its inner end and the outerfeurtainrod 'element being provided with depressions ito be engaged bylsaid flocking? element and 'I'ne'a'ifs for moving said locking *element in yand out of engagement with Asaid!1depressiens, said last means including a key extending longitudinally through the end of the inner curtain rod element.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of telescoping curtain rod members provided at their outer ends with brackets having clamping jaws, adapted to engage the ends of a casing member, the end of one telescoping member being adapted to engage and lock against the wall of the other telescoping member in any of a number of positions, so closely spaced as to enable the creation of tension between the brackets such as to result in pressure of the clamping jaws against the ends of said casing member, the brackets being semi-resilient so as to transform said tension into permanent pressure of the clamping jaws, the locking resulting from bending strain imposed upon the telescoping member by said tension and pressure.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of telescoping curtain rod members provided at their outer ends with brackets having clamping jaws, adapted to engage the ends of a casing member, the end of one telescoping member being adapted to engage and lock against the wall of the other telescoping member in any of a number vof positions, so closely spaced as to enable the creation of tension between'the brackets such asl to result in pressure of the clamping jaws against the ends of said casing member and friction elements carried by the clamping jaws and adapted to engage the ends of said casing member, the locking resulting from bending strain imposed upon the telescoping member by said tension and pressure.

t. In a device of the class described, a pair of telescoping curtain rod members provided atk their outer ends with brackets having clamping jaws, adapted to engage the ends of a casing'y member, the end of one telescoping member being adapted to engage and lock against the wall ofthe other telescoping member in any of a number of positions, so'closely spaced as to enable the vcreation of tension between the brackets such as to result in pressure of the clamping jaws against the ends of said casing member and friction elements carried by the clamping jaws and adapted to engage the ends of said casing member, the brackets being semiresilient so as to transform said tension into permanent pressure of the clamping jaws, the locking resulting from bending strain imposed upon the telescoping member yby.

said tension and pressure.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of telescoping curtain rod members, provided at their outer ends with brackets having clamping jaws adapted to engage the ends of a casing member, the telescoping memn bers being adapted to interlock at any one of a series of positions and to thereby create a tension between the bracket members whenl the clamping jaws are in engagement With said casing member, resulting in pressure yof the clamping jaws against the ends of said casing member suiiicient to permanently sup port the device, t-he brackets being semi-resilient so as to adapty the clamping jaws to their proper positions relative to the casing member and to transform said ytension into said pressure. v

Signed this 25 day of June, 1927, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa.

,CLARENCE E. BLAKELY. 

